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FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF RIO VISTA OPERATING PARTNERSHIP L.P.

Limited Partnership Agreement

FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

                        AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

                                       OF

 

                      RIO VISTA OPERATING PARTNERSHIP L.P.

 

 | Document Parties: PENN OCTANE CORP | RIO VISTA OPERATING PARTNERSHIP L.P. | Rio Vista Operating GP LLC You are currently viewing:
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PENN OCTANE CORP | RIO VISTA OPERATING PARTNERSHIP L.P. | Rio Vista Operating GP LLC

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Title: FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF RIO VISTA OPERATING PARTNERSHIP L.P.
Governing Law: Delaware     Date: 11/10/2004
Industry: Oil and Gas Operations     Sector: Energy

FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

                        AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

                                       OF

 

                      RIO VISTA OPERATING PARTNERSHIP L.P.

 

, Parties: penn octane corp , rio vista operating partnership l.p. , rio vista operating gp llc
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                           FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

                        AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

                                       OF

 

                      RIO VISTA OPERATING PARTNERSHIP L.P.

 

 

 

 

<PAGE>

                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

                                                                            PAGE

 

 

ARTICLE I      DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

     Section 1.1      Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

     Section 1.2      Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

 

ARTICLE II      ORGANIZATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

     Section 2.1      Formation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

     Section 2.2      Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

     Section 2.3      Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office;

                     Other Offices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

     Section 2.4      Purpose and Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

     Section 2.5      Powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

     Section 2.6      Power of Attorney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

     Section 2.7      Term . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

     Section 2.8      Title to Partnership Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

 

ARTICLE III      RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

     Section 3.1      Limitation of Liability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

     Section 3.2      Management of Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

     Section 3.3      Outside Activities of the Limited Partners . . . . . . . 13

     Section 3.4      Rights of Limited Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

 

ARTICLE IV      TRANSFERS OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

     Section 4.1      Transfer Generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

     Section 4.2      Transfer of General Partner's General Partner

                     Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

     Section 4.3      Transfer of a Limited Partner's Partnership Interest . . 15

     Section 4.4      Restrictions on Transfers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

 

ARTICLE V      CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS . . 16

     Section 5.1      Initial Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

     Section 5.2      Contributions Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement . . 16

     Section 5.3      Additional Capital Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

     Section 5.4      Interest and Withdrawal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

     Section 5.5      Capital Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

 

 

                                       -i-

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                  (continued)

 

                                                                            PAGE

 

     Section 5.6      Loans from Partners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

     Section 5.7      Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities . . . . . 19

     Section 5.8      Limited Preemptive Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

     Section 5.9      Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited

                      Partner Interests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

 

ARTICLE VI      ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

     Section 6.1      Allocations for Capital Account Purposes . . . . . . . . 21

     Section 6.2       Allocations for Tax Purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

     Section 6.3      Distributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

 

ARTICLE VII      MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

     Section 7.1      Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

     Section 7.2      Certificate of Limited Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . 29

     Section 7.3      Restrictions on the General Partner's Authority. . . . . 29

     Section 7.4      Reimbursement of the General Partner . . . . . . . . . . 30

     Section 7.5      Outside Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

     Section 7.6      Loans from the General Partner; Loans or

                     Contributions from the Partnership; Contracts

                      with Affiliates; Certain Restrictions on the General

                     Partner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

     Section 7.7      Indemnification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

     Section 7.8      Liability of Indemnitees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

     Section 7.9      Resolution of Conflicts of Interest. . . . . . . . . . . 35

     Section 7.10     Other Matters Concerning the General Partner . . . . . . 37

     Section 7.11     Reliance by Third Parties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

 

ARTICLE VIII      BOOKS, RECORDS AND ACCOUNTING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

     Section 8.1      Records and Accounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

     Section 8.2      Fiscal Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

 

ARTICLE IX      TAX MATTERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

     Section 9.1      Tax Returns and Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

     Section 9.2      Tax Elections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

     Section 9.3      Tax Controversies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

     Section 9.4      Withholding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

 

ARTICLE X      ADMISSION OF PARTNERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

 

 

                                      -ii-

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                  (continued)

 

                                                                            PAGE

 

     Section 10.1     Admission of Partners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

     Section 10.2     Admission of Substituted Limited Partner . . . . . . . . 40

     Section 10.3     Admission of Additional Limited Partners . . . . . . . . 40

     Section 10.4     Admission of Successor or Transferee General Partner . . 40

     Section 10.5     Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited

                     Partnership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

 

ARTICLE XI      WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

     Section 11.1     Withdrawal of the General Partner. . . . . . . . . . . . 41

     Section 11.2     Removal of the General Partner . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

     Section 11.3     Interest of Departing Partner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

     Section 11.4     Withdrawal of a Limited Partner. . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

 

ARTICLE XII      DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

     Section 12.1     Dissolution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

     Section 12.2     Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After

                     Dissolution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

     Section 12.3     Liquidator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

     Section 12.4      Liquidation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

     Section 12.5     Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership . . . 46

     Section 12.6     Return of Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

     Section 12.7     Waiver of Partition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

     Section 12.8     Capital Account Restoration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

 

ARTICLE XIII      AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

     Section 13.1     Amendment to be Adopted Solely by the General

                     Partner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

     Section 13.2     Amendment Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

 

ARTICLE XIV      MERGER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

     Section 14.1     Authority. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

     Section 14.2     Procedure for Merger or Consolidation. . . . . . . . . . 48

     Section 14.3     Approval by Limited Partners of Merger or

                      Consolidation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

     Section 14.4     Certificate of Merger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

     Section 14.5     Effect of Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

 

ARTICLE XV      GENERAL PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

     Section 15.1     Addresses and Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

 

 

                                      -iii-

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                   (continued)

 

                                                                            PAGE

 

     Section 15.2     Further Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

     Section 15.3     Binding Effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

     Section 15.4     Integration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

     Section 15.5     Creditors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

     Section 15.6     Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

      Section 15.7     Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

     Section 15.8     Applicable Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

     Section 15.9     Invalidity of Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

     Section 15.10    Consent of Partners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

 

 

                                      -iv-

<PAGE>

                           FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED

                        AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                        OF

                      RIO VISTA OPERATING PARTNERSHIP L.P.

 

     This   FIRST   AMENDED   AND   RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP of RIO

VISTA   OPERATING   PARTNERSHIP   L.P.,   dated   as   of   September   16,   2004   (this

"Agreement"),   is   entered   into   by   and   between Rio Vista Operating GP LLC, a

  ---------

Delaware   limited   liability   company,   as   the   General   Partner,   Penn   Octane

Corporation,   a Delaware corporation, and, upon consummation of the transactions

contemplated   under   Section   5.2   of   this Agreement, Rio Vista Energy Partners

                     ------------

L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, as the Limited Partners, together with any

other Persons who hereafter become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto

as provided herein.   This Agreement amends and restates the Agreement of Limited

Partnership   of   the   Partnership   dated   July,   10,   2003,   in   its   entirety.

 

                                    ARTICLE I

 

                                   DEFINITIONS

 

     Section   1.1      Definitions.   The   following   definitions shall be for all

                      -----------

purposes,   unless   otherwise   clearly   indicated to the contrary, applied to the

terms   used   in   this Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise

defined   shall   have   the   meanings assigned to such terms in the MLP Agreement.

 

     "Additional   Limited Partner" means a Person admitted to the Partnership as

      ---------------------------

a   Limited   Partner   pursuant to Section 10.3 and who is s such on the books and

                                  -----------

records   of   the   Partnership.

 

     "Adjusted   Capital   Account"   means the Capital Account maintained for each

      --------------------------

Partner   as   of the end of each fiscal year of the Partnership, (a) increased by

any amounts that such Partner is obligated to restore under the standards set by

Treasury   Regulation   Section   1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)   (or   is deemed obligated to

restore under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5)) and (b)

decreased   by (i) the amount of all losses and deductions that, as of the end of

such   fiscal   year,   are   reasonably expected to be allocated to such Partner in

subsequent   years   under   Sections 704(e)(2) and 706(d) of the Code and Treasury

Regulation   Section   1.751-1(b)(2)(ii), and (ii) the amount of all distributions

that,   as   of the end of such fiscal year, are reasonably expected to be made to

such   Partner in subsequent years in accordance with the terms of this Agreement

or   otherwise   to   the extent they exceed offsetting increases to such Partner's

Capital   Account   that are reasonably expected to occur during (or prior to) the

year   in which such distributions are reasonably expected to be made (other than

increases as a result of a minimum gain chargeback pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i)

                                                               -----------------

or 6.1(d)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended

-------------

to   comply   with   the   provisions   of   Treasury   Regulation   Section

1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)   and   shall   be   interpreted   consistently   therewith.   The

"Adjusted Capital Account" of a Partner in respect of a General Partner Interest

or any other specified interest in the Partnership shall be the amount that such

Adjusted   Capital   Account   would   be   if such General Partner Interest or other

interest   in   the   Partnership were the only interest in the Partnership held by

such   Partner

 

 

                                         1

<PAGE>

from and after the date on which such General Partner Interest or other interest

in   the   Partnership   was   first   issued.

 

     "Adjusted Property" means any property the Carrying Value of which has been

      -----------------

adjusted   pursuant   to   Section   5.5(d)(i)   or   5.5(d)(ii).

                        ----------------------------------

 

     "Affiliate"   means,   with   respect   to   any   Person,   any other Person that

      ---------

directly   or   indirectly   through   one   or   more   intermediaries   controls,   is

controlled   by   or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used

herein,   the   term   "control"   means   the possession, direct or indirect, of the

power   to   direct   or   cause   the   direction of the management and policies of a

Person,   whether   through   ownership   of   voting   securities,   by   contract   or

otherwise.

 

     "Agreed Allocation" means any allocation, other than a Required Allocation,

      -----------------

of   an   item   of   income,   gain, loss or deduction pursuant to the provisions of

Section   6.1,   including,   without   limitation,   a   Curative   Allocation   (if

------------

appropriate   to   the   context   in   which   the term "Agreed Allocation" is used).

 

     "Agreed   Value"   of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of

      -------------

such   property   or other consideration at the time of contribution as determined

by   the   General   Partner   using   such   reasonable method of valuation as it may

adopt. The General Partner shall, in its discretion, use such method as it deems

reasonable and appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed

Properties   contributed to the Partnership in a single or integrated transaction

among each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair market value of

each   Contributed   Property.

 

     "Agreement"   means   this   Agreement   of   Limited   Partnership   of Rio Vista

      ---------

Operating   Partnership   L.P.,   as   it may be amended, supplemented restated from

time   to   time.

 

     "Assets" means all assets conveyed, contributed or otherwise transferred to

      ------

the   Partnership   Group   pursuant   to   the   Contribution   Agreement.

 

     "Assignee"   means   a   Person   to whom one or more Limited Partner Interests

      --------

have   been   transferred   in a manner permitted under this Agreement, but who has

not   been   admitted   as   a   Substituted   Limited.

 

     "Associate"   means,   when   used to indicate a relationship with any Person,

      ---------

(a)   any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer

or   partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class

of voting stock or other voting interest; (b) any trust or other estate in which

such   Person   has   at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such Person

serves   as   trustee   or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (c) any relative or

spouse   of   such   Person,   or   any   relative   of   such   spouse, who has the same

principal   residence   as   such   Person.

 

     "Available   Cash"   means,   with   respect to any Quarter ending prior to the

      ---------------

Liquidation   Date:

 

 

                                        2

<PAGE>

          (a)      the   sum   of   (i)   all   cash   and   cash   equivalents   of   the

Partnership on hand at the end of such Quarter, and (ii) all additional cash and

cash   equivalents   of   the   Partnership   on hand on the date of determination of

Available   Cash   with   respect   to   such   Quarter resulting from Working Capital

Borrowings   made   subsequent   to   the   end   of   such   Quarter,   less

 

          (b)      the   amount   of   any   cash   reserves   that   is   necessary   or

appropriate   in   the reasonable discretion of the General Partner to (i) provide

for   the   proper   conduct of the business of the Partnership (including reserves

for   future   capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the

Partnership)   subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or any

loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement

or   obligation   to   which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or

its   assets   are   subject or (iii) provide funds for distributions under Section

6.4   or   6.5 of the MLP Agreement in respect of any one or more of the next four

Quarters;   provided,   however,   that   the General Partner may not establish cash

reserves   pursuant   to   (iii) above if the effect of such reserves would be that

the MLP is unable to distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Common

Units,   plus   any   Cumulative   Common   Unit   Arrearage on all Common Units, with

respect   to   such   Quarter;   and, provided further, that disbursements made by a

Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of

such   Quarter   but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with

respect   to   such   Quarter   shall   be   deemed   to   have   been made, established,

increased   or   reduced,   for purposes of determining Available Cash, within such

Quarter   if   the   General   Partner   so   determines.

 

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, "Available Cash" with respect to the Quarter

in   which   the   Liquidation   Date   occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal

zero.

 

     "Book-Tax Disparity" means with respect to any item of Contributed Property

      ------------------

or   Adjusted   Property,   as   of   the   date   of any determination, the difference

between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and

the   adjusted   basis   thereof for federal income tax purposes as of such date. A

Partner's   share   of   the   Partnership's   Book-Tax   Disparities   in   all   of its

Contributed   Property   and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference

between such Partner's Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section

                                                                         -------

5.5 and   the   hypothetical balance of such Partner's Capital Account computed as

---

if   it   had   been   maintained   strictly   in   accordance   with federal income tax

accounting   principles.

 

     "Capital   Account"   means   the   capital   account   maintained   for a Partner

      ----------------

pursuant   to   Section   5.5   . The "Capital Account" of a Partner in respect of a

              ------------

General   Partner   Interest or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount

that   such   Capital   Account   would be if such General Partner Interest or other

specified   interest in the Partnership were the only interest in the Partnership

held   by   such   Partner   from   and   after the date on which such General Partner

Interest   or   other   specified   interest   in   the   Partnership was first issued.

 

     "Capital   Contribution"   means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed

      ---------------------

Value   of   Contributed   Property   that   a Partner contributes to the Partnership

pursuant   to   this   Agreement   or   the   Contribution   Agreement.

 

 

                                        3

<PAGE>

     "Carrying   Value"   means   (a)   with   respect to a Contributed Property, the

      ---------------

Agreed   Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation,

amortization   and   cost   recovery   deductions   charged   to   the   Partners'   and

Assignees'   Capital   Accounts   in   respect of such Contributed Property, and (b)

with   respect   to   any   other   Partnership   property, the adjusted basis of such

property   for   federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination.

The   Carrying   Value   of   any   property   shall   be adjusted from time to time in

accordance   with   Sections   5.5(d)(i)   and   5.5(d)(ii)   and   to reflect changes,

                  ------------------------------------

additions   or   other   adjustments   to   the   Carrying   Value for dispositions and

acquisitions   of   Partnership   properties,   as deemed appropriate by the General

Partner.

 

     "Certificate   of   Limited   Partnership"   means   the   Certificate of Limited

      -------------------------------------

Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of

Delaware   as   referenced   in   Section   7.2,   as   such   Certificate   of   Limited

                              ------------

Partnership   may   be   amended,   supplemented   or   restated   from   time   to time.

 

     "Closing   Date" means the first date on which the Registration Statement is

      -------------

declared   effective   by   the   Commission.

 

     "Code"   means   the   Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect

      ----

from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the

Code   shall   be   deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of

any   successor   law.

 

     "Commission"   means   the   United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

      ----------

 

     "Contributed   Property" means each property or other asset, in such form as

      ---------------------

may   be   permitted   by   the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the

Partnership.   Once   the   Carrying   Value   of   a Contributed Property is adjusted

pursuant   to   Section   5.5(d),   such   property   shall   no   longer   constitute   a

              ---------------

Contributed   Property,   but   shall   be   deemed   an   Adjusted   Property.

 

     "Contribution   Agreement"   means   that certain Contribution, Conveyance and

      -----------------------

Assumption   Agreement   among   the Partnership, the MLP General Partner, the MLP,

and   Penn   Octane Corporation, together with the additional conveyance documents

and   instruments   contemplated   or   referenced   thereunder.

 

     "Curative   Allocation"   means   any   allocation   of an item of income, gain,

      --------------------

deduction,   loss   or   credit   pursuant   to the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(ix).

                                                             ------------------

 

     "Delaware   Act" means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act,

      -------------

6 Del. C. Section 17-101 et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time

to   time,   and   any   successor   to   such   statute.

 

      "Departing   Partner"   means   a   former   General   Partner from and after the

      ------------------

effective   date   of   any   withdrawal   or   removal of such former General Partner

pursuant   to   Section   11.1   or   11.2.

              -----------------------

 

     "Distribution"   means   the   distribution   of Common Units of the MLP to the

      ------------

stockholders   of   Penn   Octane   Corporation,   as   described   in the Registration

Statement.

 

 

                                        4

<PAGE>

     "Economic   Risk   of   Loss" has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation

      ------------------------

Section   1.752-2(a).

 

     "Event   of   Withdrawal"   has   the   meaning assigned to such term in Section

      ---------------------                                                -------

11.1(a).

-------

 

     "General   Partner"   means Rio Vista Operating GP LLC and its successors and

      ----------------

permitted   assigns   as   general   partner   of   the   Partnership.

 

     "General   Partner   Interest"   means   the   ownership interest of the General

      --------------------------

Partner   in   the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner) and includes

any   and   all   benefits   to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in

this   Agreement,   together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply

with   the   terms   and   provisions   of   this   Agreement.

 

     "Group   Member"   means   a   member   of   the   Partnership   Group.

      -------------

 

     "Indemnitee"   means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing Partner, (c)

      ----------

any   Person   who   is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing

Partner,   (d)   any   Person   who   is or was a member, partner, officer, director,

employee,   agent   or   trustee   of   any   Group Member, the General Partner or any

Departing   Partner   or any Affiliate of any Group Member, the General Partner or

any   Departing   Partner, and (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request

of   the General Partner or any Departing Partner or any Affiliate of the General

Partner   or   any   Departing   Partner   as an officer, director, employee, member,

partner,   agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided, that a Person

shall   not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis,

trustee,   fiduciary   or   custodial   services.

 

     "Limited Partner" means any Person that is admitted to the Partnership as a

      ---------------

limited   partner pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement; but the

term "Limited Partner" shall not include any Person from and after the time such

Person   withdraws   as   a   Limited   Partner   from   the   Partnership.

 

     "Limited   Partner   Interest"   means   the   ownership   interest   of a Limited

      --------------------------

Partner   or   Assignee   in   the   Partnership and includes any and all benefits to

which   such   Limited   Partner   or   Assignee   is   entitled   as   provided   in this

Agreement,   together with all obligations of such Limited Partner or Assignee to

comply   with   the   terms   and   provisions   of   this   Agreement.

 

     "Liquidation   Date"   means   (a)   in the case of an event giving rise to the

      -----------------

dissolution   of   the Partnership of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) of

the first sentence of Section 12.2, the date on which the applicable time period

                      ------------

during   which   the   Partners   have   the   right   to   elect   to   reconstitute   the

Partnership and continue its business has expired without such an election being

made,   and   (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of

the   Partnership,   the   date   on   which   such   event   occurs.

 

     "Liquidator"   means   one or more Persons selected by the General Partner to

      ----------

perform   the   functions   described in Section 12.3 as liquidating trustee of the

                                      ------------

Partnership   within   the   meaning   of   the   Delaware   Act.

 

     "Merger   Agreement"   has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.

      -----------------                                             ------------

 

 

                                        5

<PAGE>

     "MLP" means Rio Vista Energy Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

      ---

 

     "MLP   Agreement"   means   the   Agreement of Limited Partnership of Rio Vista

      --------------

Energy   Partners   L.P., as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time

to   time.

 

     "MLP   General Partner" means Rio Vista GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability

      --------------------

company   and   the   general   partner   of   the   MLP.

 

     "Net   Agreed Value" means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the

      -----------------

Agreed   Value   of such property reduced by any liabilities either assumed by the

Partnership   upon   such   contribution   or to which such property is subject when

contributed,   and   (b)   in   the case of any property distributed to a Partner or

Assignee   by   the Partnership, the Partnership's Carrying Value of such property

(as   adjusted   pursuant   to   Section   5.5(d)(ii))   at   the time such property is

                             -------------------

distributed,   reduced   by   any   indebtedness   either   assumed by such Partner or

Assignee upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time

of   distribution,   in   either case, as determined under Section 752 of the Code.

 

     "Net   Income"   means,   for   any   taxable   year,   the excess, if any, of the

      -----------

Partnership's   items   of   income   and   gain   (other   than those items taken into

account   in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for

such taxable year over the Partnership's items of loss and deduction (other than

those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net

Termination   Loss)   for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation

of   Net   Income   shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall

                                                        --------------

not   include   any   items   specially   allocated   under   Section   6.1(d).

                                                       ---------------

 

     "Net   Loss"   means,   for   any   taxable   year,   the   excess,   if any, of the

      ---------

Partnership's   items   of   loss   and deduction (other than those items taken into

account   in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for

such   taxable   year   over the Partnership's items of income and gain (other than

those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net

Termination   Loss)   for   such   taxable   year.

 

The   items   included   in   the   calculation   of   Net   Loss shall be determined in

accordance   with   Section   5.5(b)   and   shall   not   include   any items specially

                  ---------------

allocated   under   Section   6.1(d).

                  ---------------

 

     "Net   Termination   Gain" means, for any taxable year, the sum, if positive,

      ----------------------

of   all   items   of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the Partnership

after   the   Liquidation   Date.   The   items   included in the determination of Net

Termination Gain shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall

                                                         --------------

not   include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section

                                                                         -------

6.1(d).

------

 

     "Net   Termination   Loss" means, for any taxable year, the sum, if negative,

      ----------------------

of   all   items   of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the Partnership

after   the   Liquidation   Date.   The   items   included in the determination of Net

Termination Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall

                                                        --------------

not   include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section

                                                                          -------

6.1(d).

------

 

 

                                        6

<PAGE>

     "Nonrecourse   Built-in   Gain"   means   with   respect   to   any   Contributed

      ---------------------------

Properties   or   Adjusted   Properties   that   are   subject to a mortgage or pledge

securing   a   Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of any taxable gain that would be

allocated   to   the Partners pursuant to Sections 6.2(b)(i)(A), 6.2(b)(ii)(A) and

                                        ----------------------------------------

6.2(b)(iii) if such properties were disposed of in a taxable transaction in full

-----------

satisfaction   of   such   liabilities   and   for   no   other   consideration.

 

     "Nonrecourse   Deductions"   means   any   and   all items of loss, deduction or

       -----------------------

expenditure (including, without limitation, any expenditure described in Section

705(a)(2)(B)   of   the   Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury

Regulation   Section   1.704-2(b),   are   attributable   to a Nonrecourse Liability.

 

     "Nonrecourse   Liability"   has   the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation

      ----------------------

Section   1.752-1(a)(2).

 

     "OLP   Subsidiary"   means   a   Subsidiary   of   the   Partnership.

      ---------------

 

     "Omnibus   Agreement"   means that Omnibus Agreement, dated as of the Closing

      ------------------

Date,   among   the   Partnership, Penn Octane Corporation, the MLP General Partner

and   the   MLP.

 

     "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular

      ------------------

counsel   to   the   Partnership   or   the General Partner or any of its Affiliates)

acceptable   to   the   General   Partner   in   its   reasonable   discretion.

 

     "Partner Nonrecourse Debt" has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation

      ------------------------

Section   1.704-2(b)(4).

 

     "Partner   Nonrecourse   Debt   Minimum   Gain"   has   the   meaning set forth in

      -----------------------------------------

Treasury   Regulation   Section   1.704-2(i)(2).

 

     "Partner Nonrecourse Deductions" means any and all items of loss, deduction

      ------------------------------

or   expenditure   (including,   without   limitation,   any expenditure described in

Section   705(a)(2)(B)   of   the   Code) that, in accordance with the principles of

Treasury   Regulation   Section   1.704-2(i),   are   attributable   to   a   Partner

Nonrecourse   Debt.

 

     "Partners"   means   the   General   Partner   and   the   Limited   Partners.

      --------

 

     "Partnership"   means   Rio   Vista   Operating   Partnership   L.P.,   a Delaware

      -----------

limited   partnership,   and   any   successors   thereto.

 

     "Partnership Group" means the Partnership and all OLP Subsidiaries, treated

      -----------------

as   a   single   consolidated   entity.

 

     "Partnership   Interest"   means   an   ownership   interest of a Partner in the

      ---------------------

Partnership,   which   shall   include the General Partner Interest and the Limited

Partner   Interest(s).

 

     "Partnership   Minimum Gain" means that amount determined in accordance with

      -------------------------

the   principles   of   Treasury   Regulation   Section   1.704-2(d).

 

 

                                        7

<PAGE>

     "Partnership   Security" means any class or series of equity interest in the

      ---------------------

Partnership (but excluding any options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights

relating   to   an   equity   interest   in   the   Partnership).

 

     "Percentage   Interest"   means   the   percentage   interest in the Partnership

      --------------------

owned   by   each   Partner   upon completion of the transactions in Section 5.2 and

                                                                 -----------

shall   mean, (a) as to the General Partner, 0.10% and (b) as to the MLP, 99.90%.

 

     "Person"   means   an individual or a corporation, limited liability company,

      ------

partnership,   joint   venture,   trust,   unincorporated organization, association,

government   agency   or   political   subdivision   thereof   or   other   entity.

 

     "Quarter"   means,   unless   the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter

      -------

(or,   with   respect   to the fiscal quarter during which the Closing Date occurs,

the   portion   of   such   fiscal   quarter remaining after the Closing Date) of the

Partnership.

 

     "Recapture   Income"   means any gain recognized by the Partnership (computed

      -----------------

without   regard   to any adjustment required by Section 734 or Section 743 of the

Code)   upon   the   disposition of any property or asset of the Partnership, which

gain   is characterized as ordinary income because it represents the recapture of

deductions   previously   taken   with   respect   to   such   property   or   asset.

 

     "Registration   Statement" means the Registration Statement on Form 10 (File

      -----------------------

No.   0-50394 as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to

time,   filed by the MLP with the Commission under the Securities Act to register

the   distribution   of   the   Common   Units   in   the   Distribution.

 

     "Required   Allocations"   means (a) any limitation imposed on any allocation

      ---------------------

of   Net   Losses or Net Termination Losses under Section 6.1(b) or 6.1(c)(ii) and

                                                --------------------------------

(b)   any   allocation   of   an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to

---

Section   6.1(d)(i),   6.1(d)(ii),   6.1(d)(iv),   6.1(d)(vii)   or   6.1(d)(ix).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

     "Residual   Gain"   or "Residual Loss" means any item of gain or loss, as the

      --------------        -------------

case   may   be,   of   the   Partnership   recognized for federal income tax purposes

resulting   from   a sale, exchange or other disposition of a Contributed Property

or   an   Adjusted   Property,   to   the   extent   such   item   of gain or loss is not

allocated   pursuant   to   Section 6.2(b)(i)(A) or 6.2(b)(ii)(A), respectively, to

                         -------------------------------------

eliminate   Book-Tax   Disparities.

 

     "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented

      --------------

or   restated   from   time   to   time   and   any   successor   to   such   statute.

 

     "Subsidiary"   means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which

      ----------

more   than   50%   of   the   voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the

occurrence   of   any   contingency)   to vote in the election of directors or other

governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date

of   determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or

a   combination   thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which

such   Person   or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a

general or limited partner

 

 

                                        8

<PAGE>

of   such   partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of

such   partnership   (considering   all   of   the   partnership   interests   of   the

partnership   as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of

determination,   by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a

combination   thereof,   or   (c)   any   other Person (other than a corporation or a

partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a

combination   thereof,   directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has

(i)   at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct

the   election   of   a   majority   of the directors or other governing body of such

Person.

 

     "Substituted   Limited   Partner" means a Person who is admitted as a Limited

      -----------------------------

Partner to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2 in place of and with all the

                                       ------------

rights   of   a Limited Partner and who is shown as a Limited Partner on the books

and   records   of   the   Partnership.

 

     "Surviving   Business   Entity"   has   the   meaning   assigned   to such term in

      ---------------------------

Section   14.2(b).

----------------

 

     "transfer"   has   the   meaning   assigned   to   such   term   in Section 4.1(a).

      --------                                                    --------------

 

      "Unrealized   Gain"   attributable to any item of Partnership property means,

      ----------------

as   of   any   date   of   determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market

value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)) over

                                                            --------------

(b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment

to   be   made   pursuant   to   Section   5.5(d)   as   of   such   date).

                            ---------------

 

     "Unrealized   Loss"   attributable to any item of Partnership property means,

      ----------------

as   of   any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value

of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to

Section   5.5(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property

---------------

as   of   such   date   (as   determined   under   Section   5.5(d)).

                                            ---------------

 

     "U.S.   GAAP"   means   United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

      ----------

consistently   applied.

 

     "Withdrawal   Opinion   of   Counsel" has the meaning assigned to such term in

      --------------------------------

Section   11.1(b).

----------------

 

     "Working   Capital   Borrowings"   means   borrowings   used   solely for working

      ----------------------------

capital   purposes   or to pay distributions to Partners made pursuant to a credit

facility   or   other arrangement to the extent such borrowings are required to be

reduced   to   a   relatively   small amount each year (or for the year in which the

Distribution   is consummated, the 12-month period beginning on the Closing Date)

for   an   economically   meaningful   period   of   time.

 

     Section   1.2      Construction.   Unless   the context requires otherwise: (a)

                      ------------

any   pronoun   used   in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine,

feminine   or   neuter   forms,   and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs

shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections

refer   to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; and (c) the term "include" or

"includes"   means includes, without limitation, and "including" means including,

without   limitation.

 

 

                                        9

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE II

 

                                  ORGANIZATION

 

     Section 2.1      Formation.   Except as expressly provided to the contrary in

                      ---------

this Agreement, the rights, duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and

obligations   of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination

of   the   Partnership   shall   be   governed   by   the Delaware Act. All Partnership

Interests   shall   constitute   personal   property   of   the   owner thereof for all

purposes   and   a   Partner   has   no   interest   in   specific Partnership property.

 

     Section   2.2      Name.   The   name   of   the   Partnership shall be "Rio Vista

                      ----

Operating   Partnership   L.P."   The Partnership's business may be conducted under

any   other   name or names deemed necessary or appropriate by the General Partner

in   its   sole   discretion,   including the name of the General Partner. The words

"Limited   Partnership,"   "L.P.,"   "Ltd."   or   similar   words or letters shall be

included   in the Partnership's name where necessary for the purpose of complying

with   the   laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner in its

discretion   may   change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to

time   and   shall   notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular

communication   to   the   Limited   Partners.

 

     Section   2.3      Registered   Office;   Registered   Agent;   Principal Office;

                      ----------------------------------------------------------

Other   Offices.   Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered

--------------

office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at 615 South

DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and the registered agent for service of process

on   the   Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be

Capitol Services, Inc.   The principal office of the Partnership shall be located

at   820   Gessner   Road, Suite 1285, Houston, Texas 77024, or such other place as

the   General   Partner   may   from time to time designate by notice to the Limited

Partners.   The   Partnership   may   maintain offices at such other place or places

within   or   outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner deems necessary

or   appropriate.   The   address of the General Partner shall be 820 Gessner Road,

Suite 1285, Houston, Texas 77024, or such other place as the General Partner may

from   time   to   time   designate   by   notice   to   the   Limited   Partners.

 

     Section   2.4      Purpose   and   Business.   The   purpose   and   nature   of the

                      ----------------------

business   to   be   conducted   by the Partnership shall be to (a) acquire, manage,

operate   and   sell   the   Assets   and   any   similar   assets   or properties now or

hereafter   acquired by the Partnership, (b) engage directly in, or enter into or

form   any   corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or

other   arrangement   to   engage   indirectly   in,   any   business activity that the

Partnership   is   permitted   to   engage   in,   or any type of business or activity

engaged   in   by the General Partner prior to the Closing Date and, in connection

therewith,   to   exercise   all   of   the   rights   and   powers   conferred   upon the

Partnership   pursuant   to the agreements relating to such business activity, (c)

engage   directly   in,   or enter into or form any corporation, partnership, joint

venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in,

any   business activity that is approved by the General Partner and that lawfully

may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act

and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred

upon   the   Partnership   pursuant   to   the   agreements   relating to such business

activity;   provided, however, that the General Partner reasonably determines, as

of   the   date   of   the   acquisition   or commencement of such activity, that such

activity   (i) generates "qualifying

 

 

                                       10

<PAGE>

income"   (as   such term is defined pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code) or (ii)

enhances   the   operations   of   an   activity   of   the   Partnership that generates

qualifying   income,   and   (d)   do   anything   necessary   or   appropriate   to   the

foregoing,   including   the   making   of capital contributions or loans to a Group

Member,   the   MLP   or   any   Subsidiary   of   the   MLP. The General Partner has no

obligation   or duty to the Partnership, the Limited Partners or the Assignees to

propose or approve, and in its discretion may decline to propose or approve, the

conduct   by   the   Partnership   of   any   business.

 

     Section   2.5      Powers.   The   Partnership shall be empowered to do any and

                      ------

all   acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or

convenient   for   the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business

described   in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership.

              -----------

 

     Section   2.6      Power   of   Attorney.

                      -------------------

 

          (a)      Each   Limited Partner and each Assignee hereby constitutes and

appoints   the   General   Partner   and,   if   a Liquidator shall have been selected

pursuant to Section 12.3, the Liquidator (and any successor to the Liquidator by

            ------------

merger,   transfer,   assignment,   election   or   otherwise)   and   each   of   their

authorized   officers   and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with full power

of   substitution,   as   its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full

power   and   authority   in   his   name,   place   and   stead,   to:

 

                (i)      execute,   swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record

in   the   appropriate   public   offices   (A) all certificates, documents and other

instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership

and   all   amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that the General Partner

or   the   Liquidator   deems necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue

the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a

partnership   in   which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State

of   Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may conduct

business   or own property; (B) all certificates, documents and other instruments

that   the   General   Partner   or the Liquidator deems necessary or appropriate to

reflect,   in   accordance   with its terms, any amendment, change, modification or

restatement   of   this   Agreement;   (C)   all   certificates,   documents   and other

instruments   (including   conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the

General   Partner or the Liquidator deems necessary or appropriate to reflect the

dissolution   and   liquidation   of   the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this

Agreement; (D) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the

admission,   withdrawal,   removal   or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or

other   events   described   in,   Article   IV,   X, XI or XII; (E) all certificates,

                               --------------------------

documents   and   other   instruments   relating to the determination of the rights,

preferences   and   privileges   of   any   class   or series of Partnership Interests

issued   pursuant   hereto;   and   (F)   all   certificates,   documents   and   other

instruments   (including   agreements   and   a certificate of merger) relating to a

merger   or   consolidation   of   the   Partnership   pursuant   to   Article   XIV; and

                                                               ------------

 

               (ii)      execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record

all   ballots,   consents,   approvals,   waivers, certificates, documents and other

instruments   necessary   or appropriate, in the discretion of the General Partner

or the Liquidator, to make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent,

approval,   agreement   or   other   action   that   is   made   or   given   by

 

 

                                       11

<PAGE>

the   Partners   hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or is

necessary   or   appropriate,   in   the   discretion   of   the General Partner or the

Liquidator,   to effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement; provided, that

when   required   by any provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage

of   the   Limited   Partners   or   of   the   Limited Partners of any class or series

required to take any action, the General Partner and the Liquidator may exercise

the   power   of attorney made in this Section 2.6(a)(ii) only after the necessary

                                     ------------------

vote,   consent or approval of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of

such   class   or   series,   as   applicable.

 

     Nothing   contained in this Section 2.6(a) shall be construed as authorizing

                                --------------

the   General   Partner   to amend this Agreement except in accordance with Article

                                                                         -------

XIII   or   as   may   be   otherwise   expressly   provided   for   in   this   Agreement.

----

 

          (b)      The   foregoing   power   of   attorney   is   hereby declared to be

irrevocable   and   a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to

the   maximum   extent   permitted by law, not be affected by the subsequent death,

incompetency,   disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of

any   Limited   Partner or Assignee and the transfer of all or any portion of such

Limited   Partner's   or   Assignee's Partnership Interest and shall extend to such

Limited   Partner's   or   Assignee's   heirs,   successors,   assigns   and   personal

representatives. Each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby agrees to be bound

by   any   representation   made by the General Partner or the Liquidator acting in

good   faith pursuant to such power of attorney; and each such Limited Partner or

Assignee,   to   the   maximum   extent   permitted by law, hereby waives any and all

defenses that may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the

General   Partner   or   the   Liquidator   taken   in   good faith under such power of

attorney.   Each   Limited   Partner   or   Assignee shall execute and deliver to the

General   Partner   or the Liquidator, within 15 days after receipt of the request

therefor,   such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as

the   General   Partner   or   the   Liquidator   deems   necessary   to effectuate this

Agreement   and   the   purposes   of   the   Partnership.

 

     Section   2.7      Term.   The   term   of   the   Partnership   commenced upon the

                      ----

filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership in accordance with the Delaware

Act   and shall continue in existence until the dissolution of the Partnership in

accordance   with the provisions of Article XII. The existence of the Partnership

                                   -----------

as   a   separate   legal   entity   shall   continue   until   the   cancellation of the

Certificate   of   Limited   Partnership   as   provided   in   the   Delaware   Act.

 

     Section   2.8      Title to Partnership Assets.   Title to Partnership assets,

                       ---------------------------

whether   real,   personal   or   mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be

deemed   to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner or Assignee,

individually   or   collectively,   shall   have   any   ownership   interest   in   such

Partnership   assets   or   any   portion   thereof.   Title   to   any   or   all   of the

Partnership   assets   may   be   held   in   the name of the Partnership, the General

Partner,   one   or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the General

Partner may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any

Partnership   assets   for   which   record title is held in the name of the General

Partner   or   one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees shall be held

by   the   General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee for the use and benefit of

the   Partnership   in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided,

however,   that   the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record

title   to   such   assets (other than those assets in respect of which the General

Partner   determines   that   the   expense   and   difficulty   of

 

 

                                       12

<PAGE>

conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership impracticable) to

be   vested   in   the   Partnership   as   soon   as reasonably practicable; provided,

further,   that,   prior to any withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as

soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts

to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership and, prior to any such

transfer,   will   provide   for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory to

the General Partner. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of

the   Partnership   in   its   books   and records, irrespective of the name in which

record   title   to   such   Partnership   assets   is   held.

 

                                   ARTICLE III

 

                           RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

     Section   3.1      Limitation   of   Liability.   The   Limited   Partners and the

                      -------------------------

Assignees   shall   have   no   liability   under   this Agreement except as expressly

provided   in   this   Agreement   or   the   Delaware   Act.

 

     Section 3.2      Management of Business.   No Limited Partner or Assignee, in

                     ----------------------

its   capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or control

(within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of the Partnership's business, transact

any   business   in the Partnership's name or have the power to sign documents for

or   otherwise   bind   the   Partnership.   Any action taken by any Affiliate of the

General   Partner   or   any   officer, director, employee, manager, member, general

partner,   agent   or   trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or

any   officer,   director,   employee,   manager,   member, general partner, agent or

trustee   of   a   Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall not be deemed to be

participation   in   the   control   of the business of the Partnership by a limited

partner   of   the   Partnership   (within   the   meaning of Section 17-303(a) of the

Delaware   Act)   and shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the

liability   of   the   Limited   Partners   or   Assignees   under   this   Agreement.

 

     Section 3.3      Outside Activities of the Limited Partners.   Subject to the

                     ------------------------------------------

provisions   of   Article II and the Omnibus Agreement, which shall continue to be

                ----------

applicable   to   the   Persons   referred   to   therein,   regardless of whether such

Persons   shall   also   be   Limited   Partners or Assignees, any Limited Partner or

Assignee   shall   be   entitled   to   and may have business interests and engage in

business   activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including

business   interests   and   activities   in direct competition with the Partnership

Group.   Neither the Partnership nor any of the other Partners or Assignees shall

have   any   rights   by   virtue   of this Agreement in any business ventures of any

Limited   Partner   or   Assignee.

 

     Section   3.4      Rights   of   Limited   Partners.

                      -----------------------------

 

          (a)       In   addition   to other rights provided by this Agreement or by

applicable   law,   and   except as limited by Section 3.4(b), each Limited Partner

                                            --------------

shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner's

interest as a limited partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand

and   at   such   Limited   Partner's   own   expense:

 

               (i)      promptly   after   becoming   available, to obtain a copy of

the   Partnership's   federal,   state   and local income tax returns for each year;

 

 

                                       13

<PAGE>

               (ii)      to   have furnished to him a current list of the name and

last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner;

 

               (iii)      to   have   furnished to him a copy of this Agreement and

the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto, together with

a   copy of the executed copies of all powers of   attorney pursuant to which this

Agreement,   the   Certificate   of   Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto

have   been   executed;

 

               (iv)      to obtain true and full information regarding the amount

of   cash   and   a   description and statement of the Net Agreed Value of any other

Capital   Contribution   by   each   Partner   and   that   each   Partner has agreed to

contribute   in   the   future,   and   the   date on which each became a Partner; and

 

               (v)      to obtain such other information regarding the affairs of

the   Partnership   as   is   just   and   reasonable;   and

 

               (vi)      to obtain true and full information regarding the status

of   the   business   and   financial   condition   of   the   Partnership.

 

          (b)      The   General   Partner   may   keep confidential from the Limited

Partners   and   Assignees,   for   such period of time as the General Partner deems

reasonable,   (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to

be   in   the   nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of

which   the   General   Partner   in   good   faith   believes   (A)   is not in the best

interests   of   the MLP or the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the MLP or the

Partnership   Group   or   (C)   that   any   Group   Member   is   required by law or by

agreement   with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with

Affiliates   of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the

obligations   set   forth   in   this   Section   3.4).

                                   ------------

 

                                   ARTICLE IV

 

                       TRANSFERS OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

     Section   4.1      Transfer   Generally.

                      -------------------

 

          (a)      The   term "transfer," when used in this Agreement with respect

to   a Partnership Interest, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction by which a

General   Partner   assigns   its   General   Partner   Interest to another Person who

becomes the General Partner or by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest

assigns   such   Limited   Partner   Interest   to another Person who is or becomes a

Limited Partner (or an Assignee), and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge,

encumbrance,   hypothecation,   mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law

or   otherwise.

 

          (b)      No   Partnership   Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in

part,   except   in   accordance   with   the   terms and conditions set forth in this

Article   IV.   Any   transfer   or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not

-----------

made   in   accordance   with   this   Article   IV   shall   be   null   and   void.

                                  -----------

 

 

                                       14

<PAGE>

          (c)      Nothing   contained   in   this   Agreement   shall be construed to

prevent   a disposition by any member of the General Partner of any or all of the

issued   and   outstanding   member   interests   of   the   General   Partner.

 

     Section 4.2      Transfer of General Partner's General Partner Interest.   No

                      ------------------------------------------------------

provision   of   this   Agreement   shall   be   construed to prevent (and the Limited

Partners do hereby expressly consent to) (i) the transfer by the General Partner

of   all   or a portion of its General Partner Interest to one or more Affiliates,

which   transferred   General Partner Interest, to the extent not transferred to a

successor   General   Partner, shall constitute a Limited Partner Interest or (ii)

the   transfer   by   the General Partner, in whole and not in part, of its General

Partner   Interest   upon   (a) its merger, consolidation or other combination into

any other Person or the transfer by it of all or substantially all of its assets

to   another   Person   or   (b)   sale of all or substantially all of the membership

interests   of   the   General Partner by its members if, in the case of a transfer

described   in   either clause (i) or (ii) of this sentence, the rights and duties

of   the   General   Partner   with   respect   to   the   General   Partner   Interest so

transferred   are assumed by the transferee and the transferee agrees to be bound

by   the   provisions   of   this   Agreement; provided, however, that in either such

case, the transferee is primarily controlled, directly or indirectly, by the MLP

or   the   MLP   General   Partner   or any Person primarily controlling, directly or

indirectly,   the   MLP   or   the   MLP   General Partner; provided, further, that in

either   such   case,   such   transferee furnishes to the Partnership an Opinion of

Counsel   that   such   merger,   consolidation, combination, transfer or assumption

will   not   result in a loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner or cause

the   Partnership   to   be taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an

entity   for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or

taxed).   In   the   case   of   a   transfer pursuant to this Section 4.2 to a Person

                                                         -----------

proposed   as   a   successor general partner of the Partnership, the transferee or

successor   (as   the   case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of

Section   10.4, be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner immediately

-------------

prior   to   the   transfer   of   the   Partnership Interest, and the business of the

Partnership   shall   continue   without   dissolution.

 

     Section   4.3      Transfer   of   a Limited Partner's Partnership Interest.   A

                      ------------------------------------------------------

Limited   Partner   may   transfer   all,   but not less than all, of its Partnership

Interest   as   a   Limited Partner in connection with the merger, consolidation or

other   combination   of such Limited Partner with or into any other Person or the

transfer   by   such   Limited Partner of all or substantially all of its assets to

another   Person   and,   following   any   such   transfer,   such Person may become a

Substituted   Limited   Partner pursuant to Article X.   Except as set forth in the

                                          ---------

immediately   preceding   sentence,   or   in   connection with any pledge of (or any

related   foreclosure   on) a Partnership Interest of a Limited Partner solely for

the purpose of securing, directly or indirectly, indebtedness of the Partnership

or   the   MLP,   a   Limited   Partner   may   not   transfer   all   or   any part of its

Partnership   Interest   or   withdraw   from   the   Partnership.

 

     Section   4.4      Restrictions   on   Transfers.

                      ---------------------------

 

          (a)      Notwithstanding   the   other   provisions of this Article IV, no

                                                                  ----------

transfer   of   any   Partnership Interest shall be made if such transfer would (i)

violate   the   then   applicable federal or state securities laws or the rules and

regulations   of   the   Commission,   any   state securities commission or any other

governmental   authority   with   jurisdiction   over   such   transfer,   (ii)

 

 

                                       15

<PAGE>

terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership or the MLP under the

laws   of the jurisdiction of its formation or (iii) cause the Partnership or the

MLP   to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be

taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so

treated   or   taxed).

 

          (b)      The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of

Partnership   Interests   if   a subsequent Opinion of Counsel determines that such

restrictions are necessary to avoid a significant risk of the Partnership or the

MLP   becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for

federal   income   tax   purposes.   The   restrictions may be imposed by making such

amendments   to   this   Agreement   as   the   General   Partner   may   determine to be

necessary   or   appropriate   to   impose   such   restrictions.

 

                                    ARTICLE V

 

           CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

     Section 5.1      Initial Contributions.   In connection with the formation of

                     ---------------------

the   Partnership   under   the Delaware Act, the General Partner purchased a 0.10%

General Partner Interest for $1.00 and was admitted as General Partner, and Penn

Octane Corporation purchased a 99.9% Limited Partner Interest in the Partnership

for   $999.00   and   was   admitted   as   a   Limited   Partner.

 

     Section   5.2      Contributions   Pursuant   to   the   Contribution   Agreement.

                       ---------------------------------------------------------

 

          (a)      Pursuant   to   the   Contribution   Agreement,   Penn   Octane

Corporation   shall   contribute   to   the   Partnership all of its right, title and

interest   in   the   Assets   as   a   Capital   Contribution.

 

          (b)      Penn   Octane   Corporation   then,   pursuant to the Contribution

Agreement,   shall   contribute   its   99.9%   Limited   Partner   Interest   in   the

Partnership   to   the   MLP   as   a   capital   contribution.

 

          (c)       Following the foregoing transactions, the General Partner will

continue   to   own   a   0.10%   General   Partner Interest, the MLP will own a 99.9%

Limited   Partner   Interest   and   shall be admitted as a Limited Partner and Penn

Octane   Corporation   shall   no   longer   own   any   Partnership Interest and shall

withdraw   as   a   Limited   Partner.

 

     Section   5.3      Additional Capital Contributions.   With the consent of the

                      --------------------------------

General   Partner,   any   Limited Partner may, but shall not be obligated to, make

additional   Capital Contributions to the Partnership. Contemporaneously with the

making   of   any Capital Contributions by a Limited Partner, in addition to those

provided in Sections 5.1 and 5.2, the General Partner shall be obligated to make

            --------------------

an additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership in an amount equal to 0.10

divided   by   99.9   times   the amount of the additional Capital Contribution then

made   by   such Limited Partner. Except as set forth in the immediately preceding

sentence   and in Article XII, the General Partner shall not be obligated to make

                 -----------

any   additional   Capital   Contributions   to   the   Partnership.

 

 

                                        16

<PAGE>

     Section   5.4      Interest and Withdrawal.   No interest shall be paid by the

                      -----------------------

Partnership   on Capital Contributions.   No Partner or Assignee shall be entitled

to   the   withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent,

if   any,   that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination

of   the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent

provided   for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this

Agreement,   no Partner or Assignee shall have priority over any other Partner or

Assignee   either   as   to   the   return of Capital Contributions or as to profits,

losses   or   distributions.   Any   such   return shall be a compromise to which all

Partners   and   Assignees   agree   within   the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the

Delaware   Act.

 

     Section   5.5      Capital   Accounts.

                      -----------------

 

          (a)      The   Partnership   shall   maintain   for   each   Partner   (or   a

beneficial owner of Partnership Interests held by a nominee in any case in which

the   nominee   has   furnished   the   identity   of such owner to the Partnership in

accordance   with   Section   6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to

the   General   Partner   in   its   sole discretion) owning a Partnership Interest a

separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance

with   the   rules   of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital

Account   shall   be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made

to   the   Partnership   with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to this

Agreement   and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including, without

limitation, income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section

                                                                         -------

5.5(b)   and   allocated   with   respect   to   such Partnership Interest pursuant to

------

Section   6.1, and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all

------------

actual   and   deemed   distributions of cash or property made with respect to such

Partnership Interest pursuant to this Agreement and (y) all items of Partnership

deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with

                                               --------------

respect   to   such   Partnership   Interest   pursuant   to   Section   6.1.

                                                         ------------

 

          (b)      For   purposes   of   computing the amount of any item of income,

gain, loss or deduction that is to be allocated pursuant to Article VI and is to

                                                            ----------

be   reflected   in the Partners' Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition

and   classification   of   any   such   item shall be the same as its determination,

recognition   and   classification   for   federal   income   tax purposes (including,

without   limitation,   any   method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization

used   for   that   purpose),   provided,   that:

 

               (i)      Solely   for purposes of this Section 5.5, the Partnership

                                                    -----------

shall   be   treated   as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by

the   General   Partner)   of   all   property   owned   by   any OLP Subsidiary that is

classified   as   a   partnership   for   federal   income   tax   purposes.

 

               (ii)      All   fees and other expenses incurred by the Partnership

to   promote   the sale of (or to sell) a Partnership Interest that can neither be

deducted   nor   amortized   under   Section   709   of   the   Code, if any, shall, for

purposes   of   Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item of deduction at

the   time such fees and other expenses are incurred and shall be allocated among

the   Partners   pursuant   to   Section   6.1.

                             ------------

 

 

                                       17

<PAGE>

               (iii)      Except   as   otherwise   provided   in Treasury Regulation

Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), computation of all items of income, gain, loss and

deduction   shall be made without regard to any election under Section 754 of the

Code   that   may   be   made by the Partnership and, as to those items described in

Section   705(a)(1)(B)   or   705(a)(2)(B)   of the Code, without regard to the fact

that   such   items   are   not   includable in gross income or are neither currently

deductible   nor   capitalized   for   federal income tax purposes. To the extent an

adjustment   to   the   adjusted   tax   basis   of   any Partnership asset pursuant to

Section   734(b)   or   743(b)   of   the   Code   is   required,   pursuant   to Treasury

Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining

Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be

treated   as   an   item   of   gain   or   loss.

 

               (iv)      Any   income,   gain   or   loss attributable to the taxable

disposition   of   any Partnership property shall be determined as if the adjusted

basis   of   such   property as of such date of disposition were equal in amount to

the   Partnership's Carrying Value with respect to such property as of such date.

 

               (v)      In   accordance with the requirements of Section 704(b) of

the   Code,   any   deductions   for   depreciation,   cost   recovery   or amortization

attributable   to any Contributed Property shall be determined as if the adjusted

basis of such property on the date it was acquired by the Partnership were equal

to   the   Agreed   Value   of such property. Upon an adjustment pursuant to Section

                                                                         -------

5.5(d)   to   the   Carrying   Value   of   any   Partnership   property   subject   to

------

depreciation,   cost   recovery   or   amortization, any further deductions for such

depreciation,   cost recovery or amortization attributable to such property shall

be   determined   (A)   as if the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the

Carrying   Value   of   such property immediately following such adjustment and (B)

using   a   rate   of   depreciation, cost recovery or amortization derived from the

same method and useful life (or, if applicable, the remaining useful life) as is

applied   for   federal income tax purposes; provided, however, that, if the asset

has   a   zero   adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, depreciation, cost

recovery   or   amortization   deductions   shall be determined using any reasonable

method   that   the   General   Partner   may   adopt.

 

               (vi)      If   the Partnership's adjusted basis in a depreciable or

cost   recovery   property   is reduced for federal income tax purposes pursuant to

Section   48(q)(1)   or   48(q)(3) of the Code, the amount of such reduction shall,

solely   for   purposes hereof, be deemed to be an additional depreciation or cost

recovery   deduction   in the year such property is placed in service and shall be

allocated   among   the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1.   Any restoration of such

                                           -----------

basis pursuant to Section 48(q)(2) of the Code shall, to the extent possible, be

allocated   in   the same manner to the Partners to whom such deemed deduction was

allocated.

 

           (c)      A   transferee of a Partnership Interest shall succeed to a pro

rata   portion   of   the   Capital   Account   of   the   transferor   relating   to   the

Partnership   Interest   so   transferred.

 

          (d)      (i)      In   accordance   with   Treasury   Regulation   Section

1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f),   on   an   issuance   of additional Partnership Interests for

cash   or   Contributed   Property,   the   Capital   Accounts of all Partners and the

Carrying   Value   of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance

shall   be   adjusted   upward   or   downward   to   reflect   any   Unrealized   Gain or

Unrealized   Loss   attributable   to   such   Partnership   property,   as   if   such

 

 

                                       18

<PAGE>

Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each

such   property   immediately prior to such issuance and had been allocated to the

Partners   at such time pursuant to Section 6.1 in the same manner as any item of

                                   -----------

gain   or   loss actually recognized during such period would have been allocated.

In   determining   such   Unrealized   Gain   or   Unrealized Loss, the aggregate cash

amount   and   fair   market   value   of   all Partnership assets (including, without

limitation,   cash   or   cash   equivalents)   immediately   prior to the issuance of

additional   Partnership   Interests   shall   be   determined by the General Partner

using   such   reasonable   method of valuation as it may adopt; provided, however,

that   the   General   Partner, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully into

account   the   fair   market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at

such   time.   The   General   Partner shall allocate such aggregate value among the

assets   of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines in its discretion to

be reasonable) to arrive at a fair market value for individual properties.

 

               (i)      In   accordance   with   Treasury   Regulation   Section

1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f),   immediately prior to any actual or deemed distribution to

a Partner of any Partnership property (other than a distribution of cash that is

not in redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest), the Capital Accounts

of   all   Partners   and   the   Carrying Value of all Partnership property shall be

adjusted   upward   or   downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss

attributable   to   such   Partnership   property,   as   if   such   Unrealized Gain or

Unrealized Loss had been recognized in a sale of such property immediately prior

to   such distribution for an amount equal to its fair market value, and had been

allocated   to the Partners, at such time, pursuant to Section 6.1(c) in the same

                                                      --------------

manner   as any item of gain or loss actually recognized during such period would

have   been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the

aggregate   cash   amount   and   fair   market   value   of   all   Partnership   assets

(including, without limitation, cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a

distribution   shall   (A)   in the case of an actual distribution that is not made

pursuant   to Section 12.4 or in the case of a deemed distribution, be determined

             ------------

and allocated in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.5(d)(i) or (B) in

                                                     ----------------

the   case   of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined

                                                     ------------

and   allocated by the Liquidator using such reasonable method of valuation as it

may   adopt.

 

     Section 5.6      Loans from Partners.   Loans by a Partner to the Partnership

                     -------------------

shall   not   constitute Capital Contributions. If any Partner shall advance funds

to the Partnership in excess of the amounts required hereunder to be contributed

by   it   to   the   capital   of the Partnership, the making of such excess advances

shall   not   result   in any increase in the amount of the Capital Account of such

Partner.   The   amount   of any such excess advances shall be a debt obligation of

the   Partnership to such Partner and shall be payable or collectible only out of

the   Partnership   assets   in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which

such   advances   are   made.

 

     Section   5.7      Issuances   of   Additional   Partnership   Securities.

                      --------------------------------------------------

 

          (a)      The   Partnership   may   issue additional Partnership Securities

and   options,   rights,   warrants   and   appreciation   rights   relating   to   the

Partnership   Securities for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to

time   to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as

shall   be   established   by   the   General   Partner   in   its   sole discretion. The

 

 

                                       19

<PAGE>

issuance   by   the   Partnership   of Partnership Securities or rights, warrants or

appreciation   rights   in   respect   thereof   shall be deemed an amendment to this

Agreement.

 

          (b)      Each   additional   Partnership Security authorized to be issued

by   the   Partnership   pursuant   to   Section   5.7(a) may be issued in one or more

                                     ---------------

classes,   or   one   or   more   series of any such classes, with such designations,

preferences,   rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes

and   series of Partnership Securities), as shall be fixed by the General Partner

in its sole discretion, including (i) the right to share Partnership profits and

losses   or   items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions;

(iii)   the   rights   upon   dissolution   and   liquidation of the Partnership; (iv)

whether,   and   the   terms   and conditions upon which, the Partnership may redeem

such   Partnership Security; (v) whether such Partnership Security is issued with

the   privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of

such   conversion   or   exchange;   (vi)   the   terms and conditions upon which each

Partnership   Security   will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or

transferred; and (vii) the right, if any, of the holder of each such Partnership

Security   to   vote   on   Partnership   matters,   including matters relating to the

relative   designations,   preferences,   rights,   powers   and   duties   of   such

Partnership   Security.

 

          (c)      The   General Partner is hereby authorized and directed to take

all   actions   that it deems necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each

issuance   of   Partnership   Securities   and   options,   rights,   warrants   and

app


 
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